April10, 2014

“Israel’s consideration to withhold tax revenue from the Palestinian Authority equal to what the Palestinian’s pay convicted terrorists in Israeli prisons should be applauded,” said Rep. Poe. “Clearly the Palestinian Authority has money to burn if they can afford to pay convicted terrorists millions of dollars as “bounty” for their crimes, to the tune of approximately 5 percent of their total annual budget. In a March hearing I held looking at the Palestinian Prisoner Program, I was dismayed to learn that even American taxpayer dollars might be fueling the fires of hatred and terrorism, subsidizing convicted killers in Israeli prisons. My opinion piece in the Jerusalem Post argued for an immediate halt to Palestinian Authority funding until they abolish this terrorism reward program. I’m glad to see that the Israelis are willing to stand up for logic and commonsense. The United States should throw our full support behind this plan and follow in short order with our own.”

Congressman Poe is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Non-proliferation & Trade